Silk Comforters Have Mommes - But What is A Momme?

Silk comforters have a momme, pronounced “mommy”, but it’s not the maternal parent, it’s the weight of the silk fabric used in making the cover.

A momme (mm) is a Japanese unit of weight equal to 3.6 grams, originating in the ancient tradition of cultured pearls. In reference to silk fabric, a momme is 3.6 grams per square yard. So, for example a 16 momme fabric weighs 57.6 grams per square yard.

Silk fabrics used in bedding range from 8mm on the low end to 22mm at the high end. Higher momme fabrics are more durable, but not necessarily higher quality. Heavier and lighter silk fabrics simply have different uses. A heavier 23 momme fabric is commonly used in men’s suits, while silk sheets range from 13 – 20 momme.

A Silk comforter uses 15 – 18 momme fabric, heavy enough to last the life of the comforter, but not too heavy to prevent moisture from passing through and away from your body.

The silk filling in a silk comforter is not measured in mommes, but rather grams or ounces. For example, a typical all year weight silk comforter would have 67ounces of silk floss filling and a common weight for the cover material would be 16 momme.